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Mikey Ambrose and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez each scored goals in the first half and Inter Miami CF held out to beat visiting FC Cincinnati 2-1 on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to earn a playoff appearance during their expansion season of the MLS.
Amid steady rain and high winds, Miami exploded with Ambrose’s goal in the 19 th minute and González Pirez’s tally in the 23rd minute. The win and favorable results elsewhere on Decision Day in MLS soared to Miami above the playoff line and to 10th place in the Eastern Conference.
After first-year teammate Nashville SC secured a playoff spot in recent days, Inter Miami became the seventh club in MLS history to register a postseason berth in its expansion campaign. Miami had lost its two previous contests and three of its last four, but it came when it was needed most on Sunday.
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FC Cincinnati ended another dismal season with a fifth loss in a row. Owner of the fewest points in MLS, FC Cincy made things interesting with Joseph-Claude Gyau’s goal in the 66th minute to put some heat on the premises.
Miami was relentless from the start, often applying pressure in the attacking third. Inter were rewarded with Ambrose’s first MLS goal in less than 20 minutes. After Miami’s corner kick was kicked out of the box, Ambrose picked up the ball and drilled it from outside the 18-yard box to open the scoring.
Only four minutes later, Miami made it 2-0. In Lewis Morgan’s corner, González Pirez contorted his body enough to jump over the crowd and head the ball over Cincinnati goalkeeper Spencer Richey.
USA Today
FCC showed life in the second half and snapped a three-game scoring drought when Gyau appeared to stun Miami goalkeeper John McCarthy with his goal. Cincinnati then caught a big jump when Miami
Andrés Reyes was sent off after his second yellow card of the match in the 88th minute, leaving the hosts at a disadvantage.
However, the visitors were unable to convert with the draw even while holding the game in the final third.
Source: espn.co.uk
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